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Sarai Miranda

Professor Moore

English 1301

06 October 2019

Sirens

Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics are known for riding in an ambulance

and being the first to arrive at the scene. The job of an EMT and Paramedic is to make sure lives

are being saved. Despite how simple or traumatic the injury may be, it is their duty to treat each

patient with equal importance of care. Every call, scenario, and patient are not assured to be

ordinary or safe; the unexpected is to be expected. The amount of work and time invested in this

field is truly unbelievable; unfortunately, EMTs and Paramedics have a low salary. Although

they are worthy of more, being employed as an EMT and furthering the education needed to

become a Paramedic is a tough and rewarding career to pursue due to education/experience

requirements, a fast pace environment, and job opportunities.

To become part of the EMT and Paramedic team, students must learn various skills and

information. First and foremost, there are multiple ways to go about successfully achieving the

education needed in this career. Medical technicians require a postsecondary non-degree award

such as a certificate that can be obtained by entering a program and can be completed in two

years or less (EMTs and Paramedics). On the other hand, Paramedics are requested to have an

associate degree because their level of patient care is higher than an EMTs. The rules do change

in different states but in all states earning a license is necessary; each level of National Registry

EMT must pass the national exam with both written and practical parts (How to Become an EMT

or Paramedic). Joining a program is difficult itself; “sometimes, workers must also pass a
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background check, and people with a criminal history might not be eligible to work in certain

occupations” (EMTs and Paramedics). EMTs and Paramedics work in a tremendously interactive

healthcare industry and having high standards assures that the patients will be in great hands.

While in the program, students have the opportunity to communicate with patients in the hospital

and ambulance clinical rotations; all students are required to complete a number of clinical hours

to perform distinct procedures. This allows the students to know what working as an EMT will

be like, along with learning and improving skills simultaneously. In the process of doing so,

students must be able to work in teams in stressful situations; this will prepare them for fast life-

threatening decisions. Also listening skills, evaluating patients’ symptoms, and clear

explanations of a procedure to a patient are all essential to become an EMT (How to Become an

EMT or Paramedic). Physical fitness is a priority EMTs and Paramedics do a large amount of

work bending, lifting, and kneeling. Although, there are a plethora of requirements to meet,

every educational experience takes part in becoming one step closer to an EMT/Paramedic.

The working field of an EMT can be exceptionally stressful they take responsibility into

their own hands and make life or death choices. EMTs and Paramedics job setting is never the

same; calls can be made from outside to indoor scenes and in any type of weather. When arriving

at a scene an EMT has to analyze their surroundings for any potential danger. For example, in a

case of a car crash, they should begin looking at the direction of the scene before arrival. At the

arrival EMTs and Paramedics look out for electrical outage, chemical exposure, fire, and

bystanders that are a threat. Even the patients can become a threat, in a state of fight-or-flight a

patient’s mental status is altered and can affect their mood. In other cases, such as domestic

violence there is only so much an EMT can do and can pass it on the police to be cleared for a

safe work environment. Another example are psychiatric patients that had an altered mental
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status and suddenly are calm should be an immediate sign that they could be ready to attack.

EMTs and Paramedics “may be exposed to contagious diseases and viruses”, wearing proper

gear can prevent this risk (Work Environment). “These workers go places—or do things—that

others dare not, all for the sake of their jobs”, including long shifts that can range from 12-24

hours (Adrenaline jobs: High-intensity careers). The environment in which EMTs and

Paramedics work is unpredictable and strenuous; there are multiple things to do at once to insure

the EMTs and patient’s safety.

Taking on this career can be overwhelming sometimes EMTs and Paramedics decide they

no longer wish to work in a hectic environment or want a second job. Paramedics and EMTs can

take on various opportunities. For instance, as a college instructor, the EMT can provide students

the knowledge and skills they will need to work with in the field. The EMT will still be working

like an EMT but instead they will teach it. On the contrary if a Paramedic or EMT decides to

continue to work in the field, certain events like concerts, cheerleader performances, or fairs hire

EMTs and Paramedics to be there in a case of an injury the EMT will already be there. Not all

EMTs and Paramedics choose to work in this field for the rest of their life they have the options

of other medical care jobs. For example, most paramedics move up and become Register Nurses;

there are programs that grant the option to paramedics in which their work can transfer

automatically and can easily finish school in a year or less. The options are countless and can

help expand the knowledge of anyone interested in a medical field job.

Every day something new is learned it does not matter how many years someone might

have of experience. As an EMT/Paramedic the strenuous environment and fast decision making

is what makes the veins feel the adrenaline people look for in a job. “Every day is an adventure,”

says Govan (Torpey). Although most of the time they will be put in unbearable situations
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Paramedics and EMTs are truly making a change in a person’s life by assisting them. It is a

rewarding feeling of satisfaction knowing that working as an EMT and Paramedic is saving

lives.
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Citation Page

“EMTs and Paramedics : Occupational Outlook Handbook:” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed September 18, 2019.

https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2014/spring/art03.pdf

Torpey, Elka, "Adrenaline jobs: High-intensity careers," Career Outlook, U.S. Bureau of Labor

Statistics, January 2016. Accessed September 18, 2019.

https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2016/article/adrenaline-jobs.htm?view_full